variate

[ vair-ee-it, -eyt ]

noun

1. Statistics. random variable.
2. variant.

variate

/ ˈvɛərɪɪt /

noun

1. statistics a random variable or a numerical value taken by it
2. See variant
   a less common word for variant

Word History and Origins

Origin of variate¹

First recorded in 1810–20; from Latin variātus, past participle of variāre “to vary”; vary, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of variate¹

C16: from Latin variāre to vary

More About Variate

What is a variate?

In statistics, a variate is any random variable in an expression or equation.

A variate, also known as a random variable, is a way to map outcomes of random processes into quantifiable data, as in Because the study used two variates, finding conclusions was much more difficult.

Variate is also a synonym for variant, meaning someone or something that varies, as in Omicron is a variate of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Example: What is the probability (P) that the variate (X) will be less than or equal to five?

Where does variate come from?

The first records of the term variate come from around the 1810s. It ultimately comes from the Latin variāre, meaning “to vary.”

A simple variate would be quantifying the result of flipping a coin. This would be written as “X = number of heads after two coin flips.” This variate can then be inserted into various functions and math equations, often to demonstrate randomness in probability.

Variate is sometimes mistakenly used as a synonym for vary, especially on social media.

Did you know … ?

What are some synonyms for variate?

• variant
• modification
• random variable

What are some words that share a root or word element with variate? 

• variation
• vary
• variety

What are some words that often get used in discussing variate?

• statistics
• random
• set
• data

What are some words variate may be commonly confused with?

• vary

How is variate used in real life?

Variate is almost always used in statistics and other mathematical disciplines that involve data analysis or probability. It is sometimes used as a synonym for variant.

Clinician: I fit a multivariate regre—

Statistician: NO. It’s not multivariate. It’s multivariable. Anything relating to the explanatory variables ends with “variable” NOT “variate”!

Clinician: By explanatory variables, do you mean the covariables?

Stats: NO, the covari—

— Karandeep Singh (@kdpsinghlab) May 14, 2021

Hope ur having fun today! Just finished a photoshoot, now to do some multi-variate calculus refresher problems for fun, then gonna go play!

— Katherine McNamara (@Kat_McNamara) June 28, 2014

 

Try using variate!

True or False?

Calculus is the field of mathematics that is most concerned with the use of variates.